Adam Ondra Climbs First 5.14d in Israel
Adam Ondra isn’t finished with 2017 and his impressive list of new routes for the year.
He has spent the past while climbing and projecting in Israel, where he recently climbed the country’s first 5.14d.
Ondra said after his trip: “Israeli trip was a blast! Besides sightseeing and tasting one of the best food I have ever had, we climbed a lot in Israeli’s hardest crag Nezer Cave.
“This cave is normally closed for climbing between November and March, for no obvious reason. We were lucky enough to get special permit for our trip thanks to Ofer Blutrich.
“Israeli climbing is very small and it is facing very little comprehension from the rangers of natural reserves and local authorities. Hopefully, this trip will contribute to cooperation and opening more crags from the untapped potential this country has to offer. So it will be possible to “climb free” in Israel.”
The steep and hard line climbs across the Nezer Cave and Ondra called it Climb Free. The line was a project by Blutrich, local top climber.
Blutrich had previously made the first ascents of Blue Bear 5.13b and Matric 5.14b, both firsts of the grade in Israel.
The Nezer Cave is located in Northern Israel deep in the rolling hills that have small evergreen trees growing from them. The area was discovered in 2005 and access was approved in 2012, thanks to the Israel Climbers’ Club.
Other popular climbing areas in Israel include Ein Fara (most popular), Gita (birthplace of Israel sport climbing), Tmarim (lowest routes on the planet), and Timna (fun assortment of sandstone climbs).
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